The transport buttons - Play, Record, Stop, Loop, etc - hook in just as you’d expect, while pushing the Track button switches the 4D Encoder, all eight parameter knobs and the Previous/ Next buttons over from Komplete Kontrol to DAW control (switch them back with the Plugin button). Once everything’s up and running, though, it works very well. Known as ‘Host Integration’, the specifics of this functionality vary from DAW to DAW, and involve some very brief faffing about in terms of initial setup in certain cases (we’re looking at you, Ableton Live). NI tells us there are no plans to switch the S-Series to the same one, though, as the Fatar is the ‘superior’ of the two.Īlongside Komplete Kontrol integration, the A-Series (and S-Series) keyboards also serve a secondary role as DAW controllers. Interestingly, the keybed is designed by NI itself rather than Fatar, which makes the S-Series beds for them, and is up there with the very best that we’ve come across in this price range. Also missing are the touchstrip and one of the two footpedal input jacks around the back, both of which are acceptable losses.ĭespite being made entirely of plastic, the A-Series shares the superlative build quality of its much more expensive siblings, from the confidently solid casing, and laterally immobile pitch and mod wheels, to the consistent knob resistance and nicely sprung semi-weighted keys. The screens have been substituted with a tiny OLED display for text-only visual feedback, but Light Guide is simply gone - although Smart Play itself still works, of course. There are, however, two major cuts: the dual colour LED screens (or alphanumeric LEDs on the S25, which still languishes at Mk1), and the unique per-key Light Guide LEDs, which mirror Kontakt’s coloured key assignments and work with Komplete Kontrol’s Smart Play features to highlight the notes of selected scales and chords. Numbers gameĪvailable in 25-, 49- and 61-key versions (we received the A25 for review), the A-Series borrows many of the S-Series’ best features, including the 4D Encoder (a joystick/rotary control/button combo) for software navigation eight touch-sensitive knobs for plugin parameter control beefy pitch and mod wheels and most of the same backlit buttons, albeit laid out slightly differently. So, to open up that end of the market, NI has come up with the A-Series - a much cheaper, cut-down, bus-powered USB 2.0 controller keyboard that interfaces with the exact same Komplete Kontrol software. And if anyone has ideas for how to improve the setup I've described, I'm all ears.As great as the S-Series is, however, with prices starting at £239 for the 25-key S25 and hitting £799 for the S88, it’s a bit of a reach for many novice producers. If you want, I can DM you a picture of the setup I have. It's also easy to move the desk since it shrinks. The nice thing is that if you decide you don't like that setup, it's easy to change it up since the desk height is effortlessly adjustable. Looks terrible, but it's pretty functional for the most part (if anyone knows of a keyboard cover that fits the s88, please let me know). You can easily make a cover out of cardboard. When I want to use the S88, I take the cover off, pull the S88 out so it's completely exposed, and use the mouse and keyboard on the raised portion of my desk. I use my mouse and keyboard on that, which keeps them at an ergonomic height. Since using a mouse and keyboard on the raised desk surface is not ergonomic (except my monitor which happens to be at the ideal height on the raised desk), I hacked a keyboard cover to put over the S88 when I'm not using it. I have the desk raised enough so that the keyboard fits underneath on a keyboard stand at an ergonomic height. What I've got is an electric standing desk from Ikea (though I think there are better options around now for the price). With that being said, consider building your own "modular" desk setup. The other thing to consider is that if you're mainly looking for good key action and don't really need the KK integration, you might be better off getting a digital piano. It really doesn't fit comfortably into my space limited setup, and it's obnoxious to move. Unless you REAAAALLY want those weighted keys (which admittedly are pretty good IMO), I'd say you have the right idea dropping down to the S61.
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